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AHOSKIE – Ridgecroft School had four players in double figures as the Rams defeated Lawrence Academy, 70-59, here Friday night in Tarheel Independent Conference varsity boys basketball action.

Lawrence, who led on only one occasion, used a pair of Mari Larry baskets and one from Mike Lee to highlight an offensive flurry early in the fourth quarter that got the Warriors to within four points (52-48).

Ridgecroft – highlighted by three baskets by Jay Gaston and an old-fashioned three-point play from Bill Vaughan who was fouled when scoring off an offensive rebound – answered with a 9-2 run, building their lead back to double digits, 61-50, with a shade over three minutes remaining.

A three-pointer by Antron Gray and back-to-back baskets from Baylor Edwards and Gaston inside the game’s final 90 seconds sealed the deal for the Rams, who improved to 9-3 overall and 1-0 in league play.

Flashing to the basket three straight times in transition, Edwards scored the game’s first six points.

Lawrence scored only once from the field in the first quarter and trailed 13-3 after Vaughan stuck in back-to-back baskets off his offensive rebounds during the final 39 seconds of the opening period.

Ridgecroft’s lead grew as high as 12 points (23-11) just past the midway mark of the second quarter thanks to a trey from Edwards and a deuce by Gray.

Lawrence’s offense finally heated up prior to halftime as Conner Ferebee scored once from the field and added three free throws to highlight a rally that got the Warriors to within 27-20 at halftime.

Ridgecroft was able to maintain its advantage, using a pair of baskets from Gaston and one each by Vaughan and Gray, to lead by eight (37-29) at the midway mark of the third quarter.

Lawrence rallied as Ferebee and Mike Lee each finished off old-fashioned three-point plays to fuel a 10-4 run that allowed the Warriors to trim their deficit to 41-39. Larry then buried a trifecta from deep in the left corner that handed Lawrence its first lead of the game (42-41) with 1:06 left in the third period.

But that advantage was short lived as Frank Jones and Taylor Gunter connected on baskets inside the final 60 seconds of the period, allowing the Rams to hold a lead (45-42) that they never again would surrender.

With the loss, Lawrence fell to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

Ridgecroft (70)

Baylor Edwards (21), Jay Gaston (16), Antron Gray (14), Bill Vaughan (11), Grafton Williams – 4, Taylor Gunter – 2, Frank Jones – 2.

Lawrence (59)

Mari Larry – 20, Conner Ferebee – 16, Nike Wiggins – 14, Mike Lee – 9.